Didi takes oath as CM, ministers fall at her feet

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee was yesterday sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the second consecutive time heading a 42-member ministry with the Congress- Left combine and the state BJP boycotting the ceremony.

A host of political leaders including RJD chief Lalu Prasad, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and DMK’s Kanimozhi were present at the ceremony.

The 42-member TMC ministry has 29 Cabinet ministers, including the CM.

'Federal front' in the making?

RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday called upon all secular parties to unite against the BJP and the RSS. National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah too batted for a ‘federal front’ and said Mamata Banerjee could head it. Banerjee supported the idea saying she would cooperate if “like-minded parties” formed such a front.

Farooq Abdullah takes call during national anthem

Jammu and Kashmir’s former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was talking on the phone while the national anthem was being played at the oath-taking ceremony. In the nearly one minute video, Abdullah is seen with the phone clutched to his ear while the anthem is on.